Breast cancer screening behaviors of African American women: a comprehensive review, analysis, and critique of nursing research.

Breast cancer is particularly burdensome on African American women (AAW) ranking second among the cause of cancer deaths in AAW. Although the incidence of breast cancer is highest in White women, AAW have a higher breast cancer mortality rate at every age and a lower survival rate than any other racial or ethnic group. Statistics indicate that the gap is widening. The results of several studies suggest that breast cancer mortality among AAW would be reduced if breast cancer screening recommendations were more effectively utilized. Results of research studies aimed at identifying variables relating to AAW acceptance of breast cancer screening activities have not had an impact on the disparity in mortality rates. The goals of this paper are to summarize the accumulated state of the nursing science and knowledge concerning breast cancer screening behavior of African American women, and to highlight important issues that research has left unresolved.